[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 193 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       REMEMBERING CAROLYN POLLAN

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Carolyn 
Pollan, who passed away at the age of 84 on Saturday, October 23, 2021.
  Carolyn Pollan was a native of Fort Smith, AR, who dedicated her life 
to serving the Natural State. She was elected to the Arkansas House of 
Representatives in 1975 and was one of only three women serving in the 
State legislature at the time. She served until 1999, becoming the 
longest serving woman and Republican in Arkansas House history.
  Throughout her career, Carolyn was a champion of Arkansas' families 
and children. Her leadership in developing policies to help kids and 
families landed her in more positions to create positive change for 
future generations.
  She created and chaired the children and youth committee--a new 
committee specifically designed to address problems affecting 
children--and served on the education committee and legislative 
council, as well as the joint budget committee. In addition, she formed 
the first domestic abuse hotline and established the Arkansas 
Commission on Child Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Abuse. She also crafted 
legislation that brought about major, positive changes to teaching at-
risk youth. Over 250 pieces of legislation she sponsored were passed, 
many of them positively impacting Arkansas's families and children. 
Family, friends, and colleagues say no one came close to matching her 
passion on these issues. Additionally, Carolyn was the first woman 
appointed as associate speaker pro tempore of the State House.
  Carolyn also cared deeply about education. For 25 years, she served 
on the John Brown University Board of Trustees--the first woman to do 
so--and became a Trustee Emeritus. She also created the Pygmalion 
Commission in 1993, which continues to improve educational outcomes for 
at-risk students in Arkansas. Additionally, she served on numerous 
educational boards and committees. Carolyn chaired the Southern 
Regional Legislative Council Education Committee and Southern 
Legislative Council Education Committee, served in the Office of 
Technology Assessment of the Congress Advisory Board for the National 
Study of Computers in Education, and on several educational boards 
within the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor.
  Carolyn also worked for Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for 3 years, 
where she helped enact welfare and workplace reforms and managed the 
State's multimillion-dollar tobacco settlement. She served on the 
development committee of the Clinton School of Public Service and was a 
founder and board president of the Arkansas Center for Health 
Improvement within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 
which has significantly improved the health of Arkansans since its 
founding.
  She has been honored by numerous organizations in recognition of her 
accomplishments. Carolyn was included in the Top 100 Women in Arkansas 
by Arkansas Business Magazine and was honored as one of 10 outstanding 
legislators in the U.S. by the National Assembly of Government. She was 
also named among the top 100 most influential people in Arkansas 
according to a statewide poll conducted by the Associated Press. In 
2020, she was inducted into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame.
  With such an impressive background and career, Carolyn remained 
humble and never lost sight of the reason she served: to protect 
Arkansas's vulnerable families and children and create greater future 
opportunities that would not only benefit them tremendously but also 
benefit the state. She was well-respected by colleagues across the 
aisle who attested to her willingness to work together if it meant 
improving the lives of Arkansans.
  Carolyn Pollan's relentless advocacy and passion created a far 
better, safer, and healthier Arkansas for families and children that 
boasts more access to important educational opportunities. I am honored 
to recognize her incredible life and join with her loved ones, former 
colleagues, and community in celebrating Carolyn's legacy.

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